Qiao Yiyi was, of course, not some imposter who had undergone plastic surgery to look like her. She was the real deal—the next diva herself.
When this fact was confirmed, Zeng Tong, though stunned, managed to keep his composure as a man and didn’t make too much of a scene.
He Yuxuan, on the other hand, couldn’t stay calm. Like a starstruck high school girl, she couldn’t contain her excitement. She rushed over to Qiao Yiyi, first asking for an autograph, then bombarding her with questions like a fangirl.
She asked about Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cord injury, when she would recover, and why she was staying at Jiang Fei’s villa. Even her fiancé, Zeng Tong, felt a bit embarrassed and told her to tone it down.
Qiao Yiyi didn’t mind much and answered He Yuxuan’s questions as best she could.
For one, He Yuxuan was Jiang Fei’s friend and classmate. Secondly, Qiao Yiyi had always been kind to her fans, which was one of the reasons she had such a massive following online.
It wasn’t entirely He Yuxuan’s fault for being so excited.
Anyone would be shocked if, without any warning, they suddenly saw a celebrity they usually only saw on TV or the internet at a close friend’s house.
Back at Jin Cheng Medical University, when He Yuxuan heard Jiang Fei say that Qiao Yiyi’s manager had called him, she thought it was impossible. Who would have thought it was true!
“Yiyi, I originally wanted to attend one of your concerts before getting married and ending my single life. But now your concerts are postponed indefinitely. What a shame,” He Yuxuan said, now calling Qiao Yiyi by her first name, as requested.
“Don’t worry. There will still be a chance,” Qiao Yiyi said with a smile. “Now that Jiang Fei is treating my throat, the postponed concerts should be back on soon. When the time is right, I’ll personally give you two front-row tickets.”
“Really?” He Yuxuan was overjoyed.
Lin Moli also joined in the conversation. Initially, there had been a bit of distance between Lin Moli and Qiao Yiyi, but with He Yuxuan, a die-hard fan of Qiao Yiyi, joining in, the atmosphere quickly warmed up.
Then, as the saying goes, three women make a lively conversation. They chatted about everything under the sun, from fashion to makeup, and the conversation flowed effortlessly.
Zeng Tong, though curious about Qiao Yiyi, found that as a man, he couldn’t contribute much to the women’s conversation. So, he went to the kitchen where Jiang Fei was busy cooking.
“Brother Fei, are you seriously going to cook for us yourself? This isn’t right. You might as well treat us to the cafeteria’s three-eight special!” Zeng Tong said, looking at Jiang Fei, who was busy sprinkling flour into a bowl, with a pained expression.
After four years of college together, Zeng Tong had never heard of Jiang Fei being able to cook.
“Why don’t we let the three women in the living room handle lunch?” Zeng Tong suggested.
Jiang Fei glanced at him and scoffed. “Let them cook? I remember your He Yuxuan is also a lady who’s never lifted a finger in the kitchen, right? As for Qiao Yiyi and Lin Moli, if they step into my kitchen, I might as well say goodbye to it.”
Zeng Tong thought about it and realized Jiang Fei was right.
These days, men might not be great cooks, but women aren’t necessarily the homemakers they used to be either.
In fact, some women are even worse in the kitchen than men!
“Then let me help you! I’ve been cooking for myself a lot since graduating. I’ve got some skills now,” Zeng Tong said, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to wash his hands.
“Get out of here,” Jiang Fei laughed and scolded. “Since when did you become such a busybody? When has Brother Fei ever messed anything up? Just wait and see. Once you taste my cooking, you might just swallow your tongue!”
After saying this, Jiang Fei finished marinating the fresh meat and was ready to start cooking.
He washed his hands, then lifted the lid of the clay pot that was simmering on the stove. A cloud of white steam rose, and a rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the air, making Zeng Tong’s mouth water instantly.
His eyes widened, and his attitude changed immediately. “What is that? It smells amazing!”
Seeing Zeng Tong finally stop doubting him and instead being completely won over by the aroma, Jiang Fei couldn’t help but feel proud. Stirring the pot, he explained, “Chicken and butter mushroom soup! The mushrooms are the king of all fungi. I used a clear chicken broth as the base and added a free-range rooster from Daocun Village. The flavor is so rich, I almost don’t want to eat it myself!”
Seeing Zeng Tong’s drooling expression, Jiang Fei fished out a few freshly boiled zongzi from another pot and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, “These are the zongzi I made yesterday. Take some to the living room and let the three women have a taste. But remember, don’t eat too many, or you’ll be too full to enjoy the other dishes later. Don’t blame me if you miss out.”
“Zongzi? You made these yourself? This…”
Having spent four years in college bantering with Jiang Fei, Zeng Tong instinctively wanted to tease him. But as soon as he picked up a warm zongzi and smelled the fragrant aroma wafting through the bamboo leaves, he immediately shut his mouth and swallowed his words.
“Why does this zongzi smell so good too? Brother Fei, are you actually a master chef?” Zeng Tong said, swallowing another mouthful of saliva.
Seeing Zeng Tong’s stunned expression, Jiang Fei’s vanity was thoroughly satisfied.
With a proud smirk, he said, “Now you know! Next time you see me cooking, just sit back and admire. No need to chatter on.”
“Damn, Brother Fei, you’re still as shameless as ever! But…” Zeng Tong took a deep breath of the fragrant air in the kitchen and gave Jiang Fei a thumbs-up. “I really bow down to you, the hidden master. I’m completely in awe! No more talking. I’m going to try these zongzi and see how good they really are!”
The result was predictable. The plate of over a dozen zongzi was emptied in less than three minutes after Zeng Tong brought it to the living room. He returned with a pitiful look on his face, holding an empty plate. “Brother Fei, my idol! Please spare a few more zongzi. I only got to eat two before the three women devoured the rest!”
Jiang Fei ignored his plea and firmly refused.
There were still plenty of zongzi left, but eating too many would lead to indigestion, and they still had a full meal to enjoy later.
Seeing Jiang Fei standing firm like an unyielding gatekeeper, Zeng Tong could only take a few deep breaths of the fragrant kitchen air before reluctantly retreating.
The aroma from the kitchen grew stronger, and the small kitchen couldn’t contain it. It spread throughout the villa. Lin Moli and Qiao Yiyi, who already knew about Jiang Fei’s culinary skills, couldn’t sit still. Zeng Tong and He Yuxuan, who had already tasted the zongzi, were equally restless.
The group’s conversation became distracted, and their eyes kept darting toward the kitchen, like children eagerly waiting for a feast during the New Year.
Finally, around noon, Jiang Fei, who had been busy in the kitchen for hours, took off his apron and called out, “Lunch is ready! Come and help serve the dishes!”
Whether it was Lin Moli, who was starting to show her strong-willed side; Qiao Yiyi, the current superstar; or He Yuxuan, the quirky and slightly eccentric woman—even Zeng Tong, the big man—they all sprang to their feet and eagerly rushed to the kitchen.
The meal was lavish, with a variety of dishes. While it wasn’t as meticulously planned as the eight major cuisines Jiang Fei had prepared back in Jin Cheng, it still covered a wide range of flavors and ingredients. There were dishes featuring ingredients from the sky, land, and sea, as well as a variety of vegetables. Cold dishes, hot dishes, soups, and even desserts were all prepared to perfection…
The table was filled with exquisitely prepared dishes, like a feast fit for the gods. The aroma was irresistible, and every dish looked incredibly appetizing.
Especially the centerpiece—the clay pot of chicken and butter mushroom soup. Its rich aroma, paired with the vibrant colors of red tomatoes and green vegetables, was a feast for both the eyes and the stomach.
Even someone with anorexia would be tempted to devour this spread!
When Qiao Yiyi first decided to stay in Daocun Village, she thought the biggest benefit would be the beautiful scenery, allowing her to relax.
Now, it seemed the real benefit was the chance to taste some of the most exquisite food in the world!
When Jiang Fei said, “No need for formalities. Let’s eat,” everyone’s chopsticks moved swiftly. Zeng Tong, who had earlier doubted Jiang Fei’s cooking skills, ate the most enthusiastically. As a man, he didn’t need to worry about his image, while the three women had to maintain some level of decorum.
“Zeng Tong, can you not eat like a starving ghost? This isn’t your home; we’re at Brother Fei’s place!” He Yuxuan reminded Zeng Tong to mind his manners, though she wasn’t much better herself.
“It’s fine… Brother Fei’s home is like my own… no need to be too formal,” Zeng Tong mumbled with his mouth full.
“These chicken mushrooms are amazing! Whether stir-fried, cold-tossed, or in soup, they’re all delicious! Our trip up the mountain was worth it,” Qiao Yiyi praised Jiang Fei.
Lin Moli, sitting next to Jiang Fei, kept serving him dishes and even stood up to ladle him some soup. “You’ve been busy all morning, and we couldn’t help much. Let me serve you some food as a thank you.”
After the meal, Jiang Fei skipped the traditional Dragon Boat Festival custom of drinking realgar wine.
After all, it had been medically proven that realgar wine was harmful to the body, as it contained traces of arsenic.
Instead, Jiang Fei used homemade rice wine, adding a special, harmless ingredient to give it a yellowish hue, similar to realgar wine. The five of them each had a small glass, marking the end of the Dragon Boat Festival feast.